About Us
Welcome to the home of the Ancestral Lifeways Community, here in Portland, OR.
The core of our existence is about getting to the soul of both human community and the land of the Pacific Northwest. We value good communication, family conflict resolution, food gathering techniques, ceremony, good relations with our neighbors, basalt tools, goose hunting, Chinook Wawa and Oregon graperoot medicine equally.
The utmost commitment of all is our commitment to family, to each other. We are also committed to learning to live closely and locally with the land of the Willamette Valley and Pacific Northwest.
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Ancestral Lifeways community is event-based. We gather together around kelp-pickling, beachcombing, basketweaving, or kayaking. Here is Erika Ritter’s well-written understanding of what to expect from community events:
Like the sign on the horse barn says, “These activities involve large and inherently unpredictable [animals][vehicles][waves][branches][rocks][etc]. Participate at your own risk.”
Ancestral Lifeways members are invited to participate as responsible (and playful) adults. Children are welcome, usually with their parents.*
On my first few activities, I discovered that the person “leading” the outing was not necessarily interested in being a guide, teacher, or organizer, but simply invited others to come along as equals. Now this might seem obvious to some of you, but it wasn’t to me.
Some of us were raised to follow and lead, not swarm. We may take turns leading, but we still instinctively expect there to _be_ a leader, and when we’re new to a group we try to follow along and fit in. We expect someone to own the horses, teach the lessons, and make the rules.
Ancestral Lifeways seems to operate more like a swarm. There is no leader. Everyone does things in their own way, and somehow all these ways arrive at the desired result. Or something else happens instead, something equally interesting. Think “teenagers at the mall,” or “toddlers at the zoo”: clambering all over things, chittering to each other, sticking things in our mouths.
Occasionally, we settle at the feet of someone wiser and get some direction; more often, we explore on our own. We each offer our own creativity, experience, and passed-down pieces of the puzzle. We are teaching each other all kinds of things, some accurate and some less so; we are two-leggeds learning how to be human beings.
In some ways it’s like a group of old friends who occasionally get together to play cards or pick berries, except _we don’t all know each other_. This means we don’t know what to expect: who will be late (or early), who will make a sudden pit-stop for shopping (or roadkill), and who will Stick to the Plan with Dedication (even if others might like to change gears). So it’s wise to expect the unexpected, and to communicate explicitly rather than relying on assumptions.
We each have our own elders and role models, and we refer to our own sense of ethics and interest to guide our learning. Some members have exhaustive knowledge and practical experience in certain areas; others may be relative novices. As I get to know people, I learn who to trust on what, and when to speak my own piece.
Newcomers: you can pretty much ask for help from anyone, or respectfully disagree with anyone, without worrying too much about it. You’ll get more out of the experience the more you put in.
Here are some of my own personal suggestions, based on my limited experiences so far with this group:
1. Safety: _Every_ participant, please take your safety and the safety of the group as your own personal responsibility. Don’t count on someone else doing that last double-check, because it may not happen.
2. Reciprocity: Also known as generosity, or karma: you gets out what you puts in.
If someone is inviting you to harvest on their land, or enjoy their hospitality, it’s common to bring gifts of comparable value. If someone needs help, we give it as we are able, trusting that others will help us in need. If an elder shares their time and wisdom with us, we listen carefully and try to make their life easier — for example, making sure they eat first instead of keeping them busy with questions while the food gets cold.
We also apply this attitude toward the land, for example giving thanks, practicing regenerative harvesting techniques, and working for positive impact rather than consumer lifestyles. We are still learning how to do this, and teaching each other as much as we know.
3. Awareness: The same rotten limb can be a climber’s accident waiting to happen, or a survivalist’s standing dry wood for campfire. Do you know where you are? Do you know where your (car, gear, camp, boat, etc) is from here? Do you know when the tide, darkness, mosquitos, etc. are coming? (Like the toddlers, our clothes can often be found strewn in bushes or on the dock).
4: Preparedness: Emergency supplies may need to be on your person (epi-pens, insulin, etc). It doesn’t hurt to bring your own map, tide tables, first aid kit, or field guide; any of the above can be a resource for others to share, and make a good “social barter” for that other thing you forgot at home.
5: Self-Reliance: Don’t be a sheep. There are no shepherds. There is no lifeguard on duty. Be a goat, or a buffalo, or a monkey, or whatever you want to be — just plan on being your own leader.
If you need help, ask for it — and if you think there _should_ be a lifeguard, consider finding one and inviting them along.
6. Self-Protection: Watch for danger, and know your own limits. If things get outside your comfort zone, let people know (don’t assume they are “just testing you” or that they “know best”). The edge of your comfort zone is a great place to learn — but if others don’t know you’re on the edge, they can inadvertently push you too far. An exhausted or panicking teammate is not much fun for anybody. You may also be the first to notice a real danger which others have overlooked.
7. Combining Stengths: Consider how you can add to any activity.
- Are you a person who has a good sense of time (or a watch alarm), and can help others get home before dark?
- Are you a person who always brings a first aid kit, flashlight, and extra water?
- Are you the person who knows local back roads and swimming holes, and can suggest the best route or nearest location for [—]?
- Are you someone who knows a lot of people, and can hook others up with organizations, mentors/mentees, barter, and other resources?
- Are you good at watching group dynamics, anticipating fatigue or accidents, or helping others to communicate their needs and concerns?
- Are you someone with a lot of knowledge in certain areas, whether practical or esoteric?
- Are you someone who notices hidden things, and can add a sense of magic to an ordinary day?
- Do you know good games, learning activities, or recipes?
Feel free to share these talents. If you don’t, who will? Check in with other participants to find the right time and place to offer your skills. You may gravitate toward others who have similar work schedules, goals, and priorities.
8. Respecting Differences: Everybody has different comfort levels. This includes the skills we’re all learning and practicing (recognizing edible plants, handling tools, boating, cooking, climbing, etc).
It also includes how we organize: Some like to improvise, letting each day take the shape that it takes. Others prefer advance planning and structured activity. Usually, we can combine elements of both — but you may need to negotiate and ask for details** to be sure you’ll be comfortable.